Tube-making machine.



PATENTBD JULY 2. 1907 E. HAEFBLY. TUBE MAKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 2, 1906. RENEWED APB. 15,1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR BY I i ATTO-RNEY EMIL HAEFELY', OF BASEL, SWITZERLAND, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE EL IOTRIC &

MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

iTUBE-MAKING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed May 2, 1906. Renewed April 15, 1907- Serial No. 368,244.

Patented July 2, 1907.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL HAEFELY, a citizen of the Republic of Switzerland, and a resident of Basel, in Switzerland, have invented a new and useful Improve" ment in Tube-Making Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates tomacliines for making insulating tubes and it constitutesan improvement upon the machineset forth andclaimed in myapplication Serial No. 223,442, filed September 26,;1904. V

The object of my invention is to provide means for facilitating the application of insulating fabric and a binder to a mandrel in such manner as to insurethc production of tubes of uniform dimensions and homogeneous composition In the accompanying drawing, Figure] is a view partially in sidcclevation andpartially in section, of a machine embodying my invention, and Fig 2 is a rear elevation of a portionof the machine shown in Fig. l.

Mounted in a suitable frameA is a mandrel holder u the surface of whichvis provided with eight longitudinal recesses which are of angularor substantially V shape in cross-section and which extendthe entire length of the holder parallel to its axis and are designated bythe letters b b, the recesses b being of the same shape and dimensions as the recesses b but alternating in position therewith. The interior of the mandrel holder (1 communicates with the exterior by means of passages c whichare uniformly spaced and the outer ends of which terminate in the recesses b.

'lhe recesses b". any one of ,WlllClL may be utilized for holding a mandrel, have polishedsurfaces, while the surfaces of the recesses I) may be unfinished. Any suitable means may be employed for locking the inandrcl holder in the positiontowliich it is rotativclyadjustcd.

A gas'pipe (1 extends through theinteriorof the mandrcl holder a and is supported in the ends thereof, suitable connectionsbeing made to one end thereof by means of a supplylhose, as shown in Fig 2. The pipe (I is provided with-small branch tubes s having lateral openings 2. r I

Above. the mandrel holder a is located a pressure do -vice f, provided with a plurality of longitudinal ribs or flanges -F, F 41 and {F of different thicknesses, the edges of which are slightly chamfered or beveledin order that injury to the material upon which they rest may beavoided. Thegpressure ;,deviceif is made rotatively adjustable in order that, a rib ol the proper thickness may bo'brought into position to cngage'the material wonndupon a mandrel, thetdiameter of which determines the-thickness of rib required. A suitabledevice p is provided for locking the device f in any operating position to which it maybe adjusted, though any other sui table locking means may be employed.

. the mandrel hold er.

side of the mandrel holder, the heat generated its periphery and length.

The pressure device f is supported by a cross bar t-- which is free to move vertically in guides provided in the standards '1 or the t'rame A, suitable gearing being device is not in use. The gearing here shown comprises a screw-threaded vertical ,rod 1}, bevel gear provided for raising the said cross bar when the pressure wheels G and G, the former of which is providcdiwith an internal screw-thread thatcngages the threaded p913 tion of the rod "R. The gear wheeLG i s-rigidlyirnounted upon the innerend of a shaft G that is monntedjn suitable bearingson the top of the tt'iarne and the outer end of which is provided withahand-wheel ,W. -In order that the pressure device f may ex e rt a con; stant and uniform pressure upon the work and in order that it may be brought into engagement andseparated from the work without sudden shock, 1 provide ar lost motion connection hetweenit andthe raising andlowerr ing mechanism, the red R of which projects intoa chamber with whichthecrossbar tis provided. -A coil-spring S is located in the chamber Oso that itsupper end maycngagethe upper sideofvthe-cha nber and its lower end may engage a head r on the lo veriend of the rod R. Y Y

A roll of paper or, other fabric \vhiclrconstitutes one of the principal elements of my productissupported in suitable hearings in the frame A, ,as indicat ed ativ,

sirable. t

When using the machine above described in accord- ,ancewith my invention, the gas coc kiG in therl ose connection to the gas pipe d 'is opened and the gas which escapes through the openings we in the branch pipes s is lighted. The air required for supporting cornhustion is admitted 1 through the passages c, the outer ends of which are at the lower" side of the mandrel hold er a and the prod nets of combustion escape through the passages c, the outer endsoi which are at the upper H thin the mandrel holder being thus imparted withlsubstantial uniformity to the outer or shellportiontthronghout The products of combustion which issue from the upper right-handlpassages c serve to heatithc frame portion I which is interposed between coating between successive layers.

rests upon the material on the mandrel.

the inclined tablet and the mandrel n so that the material fed to the mandrel may be heated to a desired temperature before reaching the mandrel.

As the paper or other fabric is drawn from the roll V over the table 1', it is provided with a coating of varnish or other suitable binder and the free end is wound close around the mandrel either in the position in which the mandrel is shown or, more conveniently, while the mandrel is resting upon the angle bar A at the left of the pressure device. After the mandrel is returned to the position indicated, it is rotated at the speed desired, either mechanically or by hand, in a clockwise direction, so as to apply the fabric with the varnish As soon as the single layer of material is wound upon the mandrel. and

the latter'is laced in the recess b the rcssure device P 7 P f is lowered until the entire weight of it and the bar Inasmuch as the recess b is of angular or V shape in cross-section and the pressure exerted from above is uniform and -constant, the progressively increasing diameter of the tube, as it is formed, does not effect any variation in the degree of density of the material:

While the device manufactured by my machine may consist solely of paper or other suitable fabric and varnish, I prefer to combine mica therewith and, when so combined, thin sheets of mica are placed upon the coating of varnish as it passesto.tl edniandrel; For the purpose of supporting the sheets of mica as they are fed to the mandrel, I may provide the frame A with a guide rack M of light, skeleton structure. While the guide rack is a useful device, it is not essential, either in the form shown or otherwise.

Inasmuch as the varnish is heated to a comparatively high temperature in passing over the heated portion I of the frame, all volatile constituents are driven off, leaving a layer of uniform consistency and without air bubbles or other particles which might serve to impair the quality of the insulating tube when completed. On account of the continuously applied uniform pressure, no varnish in excess of the amount required as a binder can remain upon the fabric as it is wound upon the mandrel and a tube of absolute uniformity as to consistency and dimensions and having extraordinary insulating qualities and durability is therefore produced.

I claim asmy invention:

1. In av machine for making tubes from sheet material, the combination with a. frame, of,a rotatively adjustable,

hollow mandrel holder having a plurality of longitudinal, V shaped recesses and transverse outlets from the interior l to some of said recesses and a piroiod anglc bar that is adapted to swim: into and out of one oi the mandrel holder recesses.

L. In a machine for making tubes from shcci material, the combinuiion with a frame, oi u hollow mandrel holder having a plurality of longitudinal, 'v' shaped recesses :ind iransvcrsc oullcts from the interior in some of said rcccsscs. and a pivoted angle bar that is adopted to swine into and out of one of the mundrcl holder recesses.

il. in a machine for making: tubes from shoot material, the combination with a frame. oi a hollow mundrcl holder having a plurality of long'iiudinul roco s and irunsvcrsc outlets from the interior to some of id recesses. and a pivoted angle bar (but is adapted to swim;- into and out of one of the mandrel holder recesses.

-i. in a machine for making: iubcs from sheet niuicriiil.

the combination with ii frame. oi a hollow mandrel lioldcr having a plurality of longitudinal lii'c s s and transverse outlets from the interior to some of said recesses. and u pivoted bar that is adapted to swing: into and out. oi ouo oi the mandrel holder recesses.

5. in a machine for mukin tubes from sheet material. the combination with a frame, oi a hollow mandrel lioldor having a plurality of longitudinal recesses and irnnsvcrse outlets from the interior io some of said recesses. 11 pi\' otcd bar that is adapted to swing inio and out of one of the mandrel holder recesses, n mandrel located in ono of suid rcce. es. and a pressure dcvivc ndapi d to rest upon the material as it-ls wound upon the mandr l.

(i. In :1 machine for making tubes from sheet mniorini. the combination with a frame, of n hollow mandrel holdor having a plurality of longitudinal recesses and iransrorso outlets from the interior to some of said recesses. a pirotod bar that is adopted io swing. into and out oi one or the mandrel holder recesses, :1 mandrel located in one oi suid recesses, a pressure device ndapiod ioresi upon the material as it is wound upon the nuiudrcl. and an inclined mica guide attached to the frame udjnceni lo the front side of the umndrcl holder.

7. In a machine for making tubes from sheet material. the combination with a mandrel and a muudrel'holder, of a rotaiively adjustable pressure device having: :1 plurality of pressure ribs of different thicknesses.

8. In a. machine for making; tubes t'rom'shcci' material, the combination with a mandrel and a uiaudrol holder having a longitudinal recess of V shape in crossscclion. oi a rotativcly ndiusinblc pressure device having a plurnlity of ribs the pressure faces oi which are of diii'creni thicknesses.

9. In a machine for mak ng tubes from sheet; material. the combination with a mandrel and a mandrel holder having a longitudinal recess of V shape in cross-section. oi a roi'ativcly adjustable pressure device having a plurality of ribs the pressure faces oi which are beveled and of dii'- fcrent thicknesses.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this IlOth day of April, 1906.

Witnesses \Vrcstur G. (Lint, Bruxm' INNS. 

